NAIJ.com gathers that Coomassie, who currently serves as chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), also blamed land grabbers at the local government level for contributing to the fracas.

He alleged that connivance between the land grabbers and corrupt local and state government officials to buy off land reserved as cattle routes has led to the loss of countless lives and property.

He also accused governors of denying citizens of their right to economic activity by banning grazing in their states.

The former IGP further warned that the whole country, especially the north, could be plunged into serious crisis if something is not done about the situation.

He stated: “In recent years, land grabbers in conjunction with corrupt local or state government officials, have bought off most of the lands that serve as cattle routes, leading to clashes between the two.

“Now, state governors have joined the fray by banning grazing in their states thus denying a significant proportion of citizens the right to their economic activity.

“Today, there are too many flash-points, not just in the North but all over the country.

“A case in point is the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers that in recent times have assumed a most destabilizing dimension, which if not managed properly could plunge the nation (particularly in the North) into internecine conflicts – the likes of which have never been seen before.”

Benue state was thrown into mourning over the killings in the state, and President Buhari had earlier sent the inspector-general of police, Abubakar Idris, to the state to attend to the critical situation.